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Kazakhstan Leads Initiatives for Central Asian Trade and Connectivity

Kazakhstan's strategic location as the gateway from China's western border to Europe makes it a linchpin in the Trans-Caspian International Trade Corridor (TITR). The TITR starts from China, transits the whole width of Kazakhstan, crosses the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan and Georgia, eventually reaching Europe via Turkey or the Black Sea. Although it is sometimes also called the "Middle Corridor", this latter term more properly refers to the TITR segment running from Kazakhstan to the South Caucasus. Started over six years ago as an autonomous bilateral initiative between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to bolster cross-Caspian trade, the Middle Corridor project antedates the TITR. The TITR, as well as the more limited Middle Corridor, have drawn considerable support from international financial institutions (IFIs) like the Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank, as well as national development organisations including the U.S. Agency for International Development. The network of the TITR association now counts eleven participating states (Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Turkey and Ukraine) as well as 25 transport and logistics companies including ports, vessels, railways and terminals. Kazakhstan's role and leadership Kazakhstan, given its geographic centrality in the region, may rightly be considered the keystone of the TITR in Central Asia, just as Azerbaijan is its keystone in the South Caucasus. Under the leadership of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the country has taken significant steps towards realising the potential of this important trade route, cementing its role as a crucial Eurasian transit hub. One example demonstrating Kazakhstan’s key role is the country’s targeting of a substantial increase in cargo traffic along the TITR, with an ambitious goal of 500,000 containers per year by 2030. The roadmap between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan for the development of the Middle Corridor across the Caspian Sea is one component of Tokayev’s vision. It complements the broader economic objectives that Tokayev has established for his country's progress, but more importantly, his active engagement with IFIs and neighbouring countries underscores his commitment to greater collaborative development and regional integration. Understanding the challenges and the impact for key countries The Middle Corridor saw a 33 per cent surge in container traffic in 2022, but this has fallen significantly in 2023. That is because the dynamic growth revealed limitations such as issues at border crossings, transhipments and co-ordination, all producing lengthy transport delays. To address these challenges, Kazakhstan—along with Azerbaijan and Georgia—has initiated upgrades to the corridor. In November 2022, the three countries signed a roadmap that outlined priority actions and investments for optimising the corridor's efficiency and increasing its capacity. The TITR diversifies trade routes and reduces the dependence of countries in Central Asia and South Caucasus on Russian imports. Opening up new markets in the Middle East and North Africa (and eventually in South and Southeast Asia) will accelerate economic growth by promoting the production of more complex and value-added products. A World Bank study forecasts a 30 per cent increase in trade along the route, with Kazakhstan’s exports...

Uzbekistan Justice Uzbekistan Features Uzbekistan Home Features Uzbekistan Local Politics

President Reiterates Resolve to Combat Crime and Corruption

The authorities have taken firm measures to crack down on organized crime in Uzbekistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said, commenting on a drive to combat corruption and crime in the country. Mirziyoyev made the remarks on December 22nd, at an extended meeting of the National Council on Spirituality and Education. In his speech, President Mirziyoyev said, “We can never remain on the sidelines. Be it criminal gangs calling themselves ‘street gangs,’ corrupt officials, or those who break the law and cause harm to the state and society. Our streets, our neighborhoods, our lives should literally be peaceful and clean, free of crime. In the new Uzbekistan, the law must prevail, and punishment for crimes must be inevitable. And, of course, it will be so.” On December 22nd, Uzbek media reported that the former governor of the Izboskan District in the eastern region of Andijon, Serobiddin Ismoilov, was arrested two days earlier on charges of abuse of power. The reports come days after officials announced the arrest on corruption charges of former Agriculture Minister, Aziz Voitov; former Bekobod District chief, Shuhrat Mirzaev; the deputy governor of the Namangan region, Saidahmad Sultonov; the former governor of the Bukhara district, Khairullo Joraev; and several top Customs Committee officials.

Central Asia Uzbekistan International Affairs Uzbekistan Life & Culture Features Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbek Foreign Ministry Summons Russian Ambassador over Annexation Comments

According to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry has called upon the Russian Ambassador, Oleg Malginov, expressing concern over the proposal made by Zakhar Prilepin, co-chairman of the Fair Russia – For Truth Party, regarding the Republic’s potential accession to the Russian Federation. The Uzbek Ministry emphasized that such a proposal is deliberately provocative and could have adverse effects on the relationship between the peoples of both countries. "During the meeting, the representative of Russia was informed in principle that in our country the statement of the co-chairman of the Fair Russia - For Truth Party, Zakhar Prilepin, at a conference at the Rossiya Segodnya press center regarding a proposal to annex the territory of Uzbekistan to Russia was received with a sense of deep concern," the statement says, noting that such thoughtless remarks by party leaders of a friendly country such as the Russian Federation do not correspond to the spirit of comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance between Uzbekistan and Russia. In turn, Malginov "with full responsibility" stated that Prilepin's remarks do not reflect the official position of the leadership of the Russian Federation "in relation to friendly and independent Uzbekistan." The Ambassador emphasized that the “sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Uzbekistan have never been questioned." Malginov also noted that the Russian Foreign Ministry plans to comment on this incident in the near future. Prilepin has previously proposed the annexation of Uzbekistan and other territories of the former USSR to Russia, stating that "Since two million of your citizens are on our territory, we claim your territory. Because most of your people are here… Who will forbid us to do anything useful on the territory of the Eurasian territory after the parade in Kiev? No one," Prilepin has also said that he would continue to promote the topic of "disavowing documentation about the collapse of the Soviet Union." Deputies from Uzbekistan asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send a letter warning about criminal liability for encroachments on the constitutional system of Uzbekistan.

Turkmenistan Features

EU Calls on Turkmenistan to Protect Rights

The EU has called on Turkmenistan to protect women's rights, remove restrictions on the Internet and give the Red Cross access to prisons during the fifteenth round of the annual human rights dialogue between the European Union and Turkmenistan in Brussels. EU representatives took note of the recommendations of human rights defenders and raised a number of pressing issues during the meeting, calling on the Turkmen government to take effective measures to improve the situation. Before the meeting the human rights organizations, International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) and the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights (TIPHR) handed over to EU representatives a report on the human rights situation in Turkmenistan with a number of recommendations, and called on the EU to use the dialogue to insist on concrete steps to address problems in Turkmenistan. In particular, Turkmenistan was recommended to take rapid and decisive steps to combat sexual and gender-based violence, including by criminalizing domestic violence, discrimination against women and girls, as well as representatives of religious minorities, persons with disabilities and LGBT representatives, and to decriminalize consensual homosexual relations. The members of the EU delegation expressed serious concerns about enforced disappearances and conditions in places of detention, including the torture and ill-treatment of prisoners. Turkmenistan should provide representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with unhindered access to prisons, the EU stated. The sides also discussed the issue of the eradication of forced labor in the cotton industry. Noting the goal of the Government of Turkmenistan to digitalize the country, the EU stressed the importance of freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to information and independent media. The EU stressed the need to ensure Internet access for all citizens, and to remove blocking from websites and social networks. During the dialogue, EU representatives also raised a number of individual cases of human rights violations and provided a list of cases of concern. The meeting discussed, among other things, the macroeconomic situation of Turkmenistan and its intention to join the WTO, as well as the issues of gas export strategy and reduction of methane emissions.

Tajikistan Life & Culture Life & Culture Tajikistan Local Politics Tajikistan Business & Economy Features

Quality of Communications Checked in Multiple Regions

The results of monitoring the quality of mobile communications in the cities and districts of Nurek, Dangara, Vose and Kulyab were presented to the Head of the Communications Service of Tajikistan, Bek Sabur, who arrived on a working visit to the Khatlon region. His visit is connected to the implementation of a decree from the President of Tajikistan "On measures to expand non-cash payments." According to various sources, the level and quality of communications do not meet the requirements. The press service of the Tajik Communications Service reported that Sabur, together with specialists, tested mobile communications in Nurek, Dangar, Vos and Kulyab. "The main purpose of the trip is to determine the accuracy of coverage of base stations in populated areas and identify problems," the press service stated. As a result of the technical inspection, it transpired that not all areas meet the quality requirements for communications. In addition, operator coverage was weak in some places. "The management of the Communications Service ordered providers to install additional stations at the same time as updating the existing ones," the department noted, adding that Sabur held a meeting with the residents of Khatlon to get their opinion on the level and quality of mobile communications. Sabur's visit followed reports received from all over Tajikistan about the low quality of mobile operator services. Tajiks often complain about slow Internet and poor communication. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of infrastructure development. It is also affected by poor energy supply and insufficient development of modern communication technologies in the country. As a result, a significant part of the population has difficulty accessing the Internet. Another problem is the lack of investment in the country's telecommunications industry, although this is slowly being corrected. For example, Tajikistan and China recently signed an agreement that provides for the supply of Chinese equipment to the Republic, which will help improve the quality of the Internet. Tajikistan has also agreed to cooperate with two Russian companies - PITER IX and Digit – in this area. Sabur instructed officials and mobile companies to urgently eliminate the identified shortcomings in order to provide all regions with stable communications and Internet following the Presidential decree.

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How Will Free Trade Zone Between EAEU and Iran Affect Kazakhstan?

The free trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Iran will ensure an increase in annual mutual trade to U$18-20 billion in the near future, Andrey Slepnev, a member of the Board for Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission said during a briefing. The free trade agreement between the EAEU and Iran is scheduled to be adopted on December 25th 2023. “Iran is a large market, our neighbor, and a key country in the international North-South transport corridor,” said Slepnev. “We consider this new agreement as one of the elements of this corridor." Slepnev stated that currently trade between EAEU countries with Iran is carried out, among other things, within the framework of the interim agreement adopted in 2019, which covers about 360 commodity items. But even this has made it possible to double mutual trade in three years, from $2.5 billion to more than $5 billion, and in 2022 to bring it to $6.2 billion. “The conclusion of a full-scale agreement will allow us to double trade in a short time. The first target we are focusing on is $18-20 billion, which is quite realistic to achieve in the foreseeable future," said Slepnev, adding that implementation of the agreement will be carried out on the basis of the WTO. For this purpose, work will be carried out on the harmonization of regulations, since Iran is not a WTO member. In addition, the parties will strive to increase the volume and channels for making payments in their national currencies. “In Kazakhstan, we see prospects for the supply of traditional Kazakh products to Iran; first of all, wheat, barley, agri-food products, metals, and chemical products. This agreement will allow Kazakhstan to increase its presence in the Iranian market," he added. Slepnev stressed that the expansion of the EAEU trade partnership with third countries will make it possible to use and actively develop the transit and transport potential of EAEU countries. Trade with Iran naturally involves the use of the North-South corridor, and will also contribute to the communications in the East-West corridor, which runs through the countries of Central Asia and Russia. “The demand for these intercontinental transport corridors is constantly increasing in the context of international tension. Economically, we live in a time when the one who is faster wins, so our advantage is speed and convenience," Slepnev concluded.